A total of 97 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are set for release after having served at least 40 years in jail with good conduct time allowance (GCTA) credits, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said on Wednesday, March 13.

The release of the PDLs was approved by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla on recommendations made by BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. 

GCTA under Republic Act No. 10592 reduces the jail term of a PDL for good conduct during his or her detention.

“Of the total PDLs set for release, 47 are from the New Bilibid Prison, 23 from Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm, 12 from Sablayan Prison and Penal Farm, six from Davao Prison and Penal Farm,  five from San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm, and four from Correctional Institution for Women,” BuCor said. 

“In his order Remulla said the prison records of said PDLs reveal that they were sentenced to at least one count of Reclusion Perpetua or Life Imprisonment, but whose time served with time allowances have already exceeded their maximum sentence, computed based on the old provisions of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) on time allowances,” it said. 

It also said the DOJ and BuCor have adopted Department Order No. 642 that revised the rules and procedures on the release of PDLs with expired sentences.

Under the revised rules and procedures, the bureau stated that: “The release of all PDLs incarcerated in national penitentiaries with expired sentences shall be approved by the Director General of the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) or his duly authorized representative, in accordance with the mandate of the Bureau to exercise authority/jurisdiction over matters pertaining to the operations of the prisons.”

If the PDLs have been sentenced life imprisonment or reclusion perpetua or have been classified as high-risk or high-profile, the BuCor said their release will only be implemented “only upon prior approval of the Secretary of Justice.”

“In order to ensure that the release of PDLs who have completed the service of their sentence/s shall not be delayed, pending the approval of the Secretary of Justice, it shall be the duty of the Director General of the BuCor to submit the necessary documents for the evaluation and approval of the Secretary of Justice not later than three months prior to the expected date of release of the PDLs concerned,” it said. 

In cases where only the approval of the BuCor director general is needed, the bureau said the rules and procedures provides that “the list of PDLs due for release shall be submitted to the Secretary of Justice at least one month prior to their expected date of release.”